U.S. President Donald Trump met on Tuesday with families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago, assuring them that “the U.S. is with them all the way” as they appealed for help in locating their missing relatives.
North Korea admitted in 2002 that its agents had kidnapped 13 Japanese nationals to train spies in Japanese language and culture—an issue that remains a key source of tension between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
The meeting took place ahead of a potential summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as the U.S. president continued his Asia tour with a visit to South Korea.
In Tokyo, Trump also met Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, reaffirming that the United States remains “an ally at the strongest level.” During the visit, the White House announced a new agreement between the two nations on the supply of rare earths—a sector heavily dominated by China and a focal point of strategic competition between Washington and Beijing.
Before arriving in Japan, Trump expressed optimism about an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. It will mark their first in-person meeting since Trump’s return to office.
Meanwhile, China’s top trade negotiator Li Chenggang said on Sunday that a “preliminary consensus” had been reached between Beijing and Washington, raising hopes of progress in easing trade tensions.
